For Christianity, Gabriel was the messenger archangel sent to announce the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus.  For Islam, Gabriel told Mohammed of Allah and the Quran.  For this film, the protagonist Gabriel delivers a perverted form of patriotism to the world.

            John Travolta (age 50 this year) plays Gabriel a counter-terrorist terrorist, Hugh Jackman plays Stan, a world class hacker who loves his kid and Halle Berry plays Ginger, the looker with sex appeal and a gun.  Berry had a small role that provided visual candy for guys,  Jackman was convincing as a caring guy on the pressure hot seat and Travolta tried to be an impassionate psychopath, but came across as miscast. 

            The screenplay sequence was contorted to create interest, but it wasn't enough.  The movie began with the climax, then did a flashback to events leading up to it.  However the story continued on to several anti-climax scenes and a dénouement, which if taken at face value, would justify terrorist acts in the name of patriotism.  So the story became a mixed message seemingly designed to confuse us about a theme that plays a dangerous game with the concept that the end justifies the means.

            Gabriel's underworld, the chase scenes and the cyber scenes were all heavy doses of fantasy.  Probably the underworld where money buys anything you want, was closest to a reality.  No one could survive driving in L.A. streets as depicted and real hackers do not do hypersonic keyboard strokes concurrent with a dance routine watching 3-D screen visuals.  Also, this film used up quite a lot of explosives and cars, but they were probably cheaper than Travolta' contract (typically $20M). 

            I think Jackman is growing as an actor and it's beginning to show.  Sam Shepard provided solid support in his role as the senator.  The plot had some clever ideas and a foreshadow line using Harry Houdini, if anyone in the target audience knows who he is.  But my 'care about it' index was less than skin deep and except for keeping a few people in Los Angeles employed, the film doesn't have much redeeming value. 

            Reviewed June 9, 2005                            Copyright 2005 Charles T. Markee

            MPAA: Rated R for violence, language and some sexuality/nudity.